Page 32 of The Merger
“Goodbye, Tate.”
“Ugh. Bye.”
I end the call and immediately pull up my texts. I casually scroll through them as if I don’t know what I’m looking for. Meanwhile, my mind races.
If I keep her away from my office—from the executive level altogether—what will it hurt?It doesn’t matter that I think it’s a waste of time. Brewer Group can afford it, and God knows we blow money on more trivial things.
When I put it like that, it sounds selfish not to give in. Although I don’t give a damn what other people think of me, and I can be a selfish prick, it does seem wrong to deny her this opportunity. She’s not even asking for enough money to matter.
Besides, I’ll hardly interact with her. She can do her plant stuff downstairs and report to human resources. It’ll be fine.
It will have to be.
Me: Are you still interested in saving our plants?
Her response comes in right away.
Carys: I’ve worried about them all week.
Me: Then you really need a hobby.
Carys: Why are you texting me at eight o’clock on a Saturday night? Sounds like you need a hobby, too.
Me: I’m working. Working is my hobby.
Carys: That’s boring.
Me: That’s no way to talk to your boss.
Carys: Ooh, does that mean what I think it means?
I grin, my fingers flying over the keys.
Me: I accept your proposal.
Carys: You don’t want to negotiate?
Me: Do you?
Carys: No one ever just accepts proposals.
Me: No one ever argues when you accept proposals.
Carys: I’m one of a kind.
“You can say that again,” I mutter.
Me: Can you start Monday? Be there at nine in the morning?
I have no idea why a date and time are so important because it truly doesn’t matter. But maybe knowing when she’ll be in the office will have some unforeseen calming effect on me for the rest of the weekend. Not likely, but there’s always hope.
Carys: Absolutely. I’ll need to know how many days you want me to come because I gave you two different packages in the proposal—one for two days a week and one for three.
Me: We can hash out the details on Monday.
“No,” I say, but ignoring my sensibilities. “You can’t set this up to be alone with her already.”
Carys: Sounds great. Your office Monday morning.
